Mason Makt’s music keeps life interesting

For an artist who doesn’t necessarily enjoy the nightlife and the things that come with it, Mason Makt sure knows
how to bring the energy that makes the nightlife so attractive.

Ewild Rist, aka Mason Makt, is a Dagbreek resident currently in his fourth year of a BA in Visual Comunication and Design, reinventing the idea of Electronic music by combining his love to draw with his passion for music.

Although reluctant to restrict himself to a certain genre, Mason Makt’s live sets would probably be best described as somewhat a form of experimental techno infused with the groove of soulful house in between. As Mason Makt so vaguely puts it, “I draw and make music”.

“My reason for being so vague in describing my creative interests is because I don’t enjoy restricting my thought and creative processes,” Makt says.

Makt mentions that he feels that his creative process works best while he’s learning and feels that once you think you don’t need education and various learning tools, you become useless and stagnant.

“An important thing to know is that you’ll never know everything about anything, because everything is always changing,” Makt added.

Contrary to the constant change, Makt describes music as a constant influence in his life. This is due to the fact that he describes music as being visual to him, in turn activating his imagination and allowing him to curate his desired audio-visual experience.

When you combine Makt’s animated approach to soulful uplifting music and his intricate and unique drawing style you are taken on an audio visual journay which exposes to what degree Makt is creating his own thought-provoking brand of art.

“When curating music for my live sets, I try to find tracks that represent the equilibrium between the crowd and myself, to keep both parties happy. I’m not gonna be there if I don’t enjoy myself,” Makt declared. “At the end of the day, I’m just doing this to keep my life interesting.’

Makt posts sets and personal productions online. Makt’s music can be found on his socials, Soundcloud Mason Makt. and Instagram @masonmakt.

Photo: Keegin Nesbit

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Song Review: High

Former Matie, Matt Carstens, has steadily built up a committed following in Stellenbosch and Cape Town. As of yesterday he officially dropped a brand-new banging single. “High” is the first single to be released this year by singer songwriter Matt Carstens.

Having been a live feature on his setlist for several months, fans will be happy to hear that Carstens has adapted his live, loop-pedal hit into a brilliant studio hit. Showcasing Carstens’ lyrical prowess through his distinguished voice, “High” takes the listener through a dynamic 3 minutes. Opening with Carstens’ verses sung over old-school beats and a groovy new-school guitar riff, the listener is captivated and, like clockwork, your foot starts tapping to the beat.

The listener is then taken into a smooth melodic chorus that is stacked with sweet harmonies. Carstens reverts back to the skillfully phrased verse before dropping another catchy chorus. He then gradually ups the beat of the song until dropping a minimalist version of the chorus, keeping the listener intrigued, until going balls to the wall with a beautiful vocal solo over the climax of the song.

The song should become a welcome feature on your playlists and has an adaptability to any situation; whether it’s jamming out alone in traffic, upstairs on the Mystics’ dancefloor or even brushing your teeth, “High” will be a worthy track for the occasion. Be sure to check out Matt Carstens on social media for his next Stellenbosch gig. His performances have a reputation of good company, great tunes, and drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Lit Matie

The tide ebbs and reveals the evening,
glistening on the cooling sand,
the sun like a large egg yolk cracked on the horizon.
The sea fog crawls onto the beach
and brings with it memories,
so many beautiful memories that,
like fish from a milky, slumbering depth, come up for a gulp,
a bite of fresh air.
We speak
and sit in silence
and speak
and sit in silence.
Your smile is a breath in the dark
as the sun is snuffed out.

-Maria Stallmann

LitMatie is a platform that is new to Die Matiewhere we publish poems that are written bystudents. If you are a keen poet, feel free to sendyour poems through to us.